BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB women’s basketball team returns to Bartow Arena on Sunday to face East Carolina in the annual Play 4Kay game. Tip time is set for 2 p.m. CT.

Fans are encouraged to wear pink to Sunday’s game as the UAB department of athletics tries to raise awareness of breast cancer as part of the Kay Yow Initiative.

To help promote the Play 4Kay campaign, the UAB marketing department will be handing out free pink shakers to the first 1,000 people who attend the game.

The first 500 fans who come through the gate will receive a free pink t-shirt, while the first 250 will receive a UAB women's basketball commemorative cup. Those who receive the free cup can get $1.50 off a soft drink at the UAB concession stands.

Series InformationEast Carolina leads, 13-9>> UAB won two defensive battles last season between the two teams. The Blazers won a low-scoring 44-39 game on the road, before picking up a 58-47 victory at Bartow Arena on Feb. 9, 2012.

Scouting East Carolina>> East Carolina has won five-straight on the year, including its last two contests away from Greenville, N.C.

>> Like UAB, the Pirates rely on defense, holding opponents to 54.2 points per contest, which is the best total in Conference USA. ECU is also tops in C-USA in steals (12.4) and turnover margin (+5.7)

>> The Pirates have four players scoring in double figures, including Whitney Edwards’ team-high 11.7 points per contest.

Sunday’s Headlines2013 Play 4Kay Game>> In support of breast cancer awareness, UAB athletics is hosting the annual Play 4Kay game on Sunday at Bartow Arena. The event, which is named after legendary North Carolina State head coach Kay Yow who lost her fight with breast cancer in 2009, is scheduled each season to raise awareness of the disease.

Blazers On Three-Game Skid>> UAB enters Sunday’s game having lost three-straight and four of its last five games on the season. The Blazers started Conference USA action with a 3-0 record before the current skid.

C-USA’s Top Defenses Collide>> East Carolina and UAB are two of five teams in the C-USA who hold opponents to less than 60 points per outing. The Pirates eclipsed the Blazers for the top spot in the scoring defense category this past week, holding opponents to 54.2 ppg. UAB is No. 2 in scoring defense with opponents scoring just 55.3 points per contest.

UAB Looking For Success At Home>> The Blazers come into Sunday’s contest with just one win at home during the Conference USA season. UAB defeated Houston, 54-46, on Jan. 13, but has since dropped contests to Memphis (63-55) and Southern Miss (54-51) at Bartow Arena.

UAB NotesUAB, SMU Go To Three Overtimes>> The Blazers went toe-to-toe with league-leader SMU on Thursday, battling through a three-overtime thriller. The Mustangs’ Keena Mays hit the game-winning shot with just over one second remaining in the third extra period to seal the win for her team. It was the first triple overtime game for UAB since 2006, when the Blazers ousted East Carolina.

UAB’s Amber Jones and Ashley Grimes each had career nights in the loss to SMU. Jones scored a career-high 26 points, while Grimes added a career-best 24.

Blazers Overcome Poor Shooting>> UAB had its best offensive game of the season against SMU on Thursday. The Blazers scored a season-high 92 points and hit 34-for-71 (47.9 percent) in the loss. UAB’s previous high point total was 80 against UNCG on Dec. 30.

UAB Leans On Defense>> Statistically, UAB is one of the top defensive teams in Conference USA. The Blazers rank second in scoring defense (55.3 ppg), field-goal pct. defense (.350), 3-point field goal percentage defense (.266) and steals (12.6 spg).

Under 70 The Norm>> SMU became first opponent to hit the 70-point mark against the Blazers. Previously, SEC foe Vanderbilt tallied the highest-point total against the Blazers this season with 69 on Nov. 15.

Low On Turnovers>> With UAB’s six turnovers committed against UTEP, the Blazers now account for the top three fewest turnover games in Conference USA history. UAB committed a league record low five against Tulsa on Feb. 12, 2009 before six miscues against Chattanooga on Nov. 11, 2011. The Blazers are currently second in the C-USA in turnover margin with a +5.6 advantage.

Leading In Losses>> The Blazers have held sizable leads in four of their seven losses this season. UAB had a nine-point advantage at George Mason (Dec. 2) and a 13-point lead against Morehead State (Dec. 18). The Blazers held a seven-point cushion on three different occasions in the loss to Chattanooga (Jan. 2) and were ahead of Memphis at the half, 32-26, on Jan. 24.

The Blazers were ahead by as much as five against SMU on Thursday, before eventually falling behind by as many as 11.

Chapman Approaching 1,000>> Junior Karisma Chapman now has 904 points in her UAB career and needs just 96 to reach 1,000. She would be the 26th player in Blazer history to net 1,000 points.

Grimes The Difference Maker>> Junior Ashley Grimes has drawn 16 starts on the year, scoring in double figures in 12 of those games. Her 14.9 ppg in C-USA play is second to Amber Jones’ 15.1 ppg.

Jones No. 10 In Games Played>> Amber Jones has moved into the top-10 in UAB history in games played as she has seen action in 116 contests throughout her career. Teammate Khalilah Watson is right behind Jones, having played 115 games in her UAB career.